Funds sought to pay off Nina Simone statue

Sculptor still owed $55,000 for work

This bronze statue of singer Nina Simone sits downtown in a plaza between Trade Street and the railroad tracks. Sculptor Zenos Frudakis has only been paid $51,000 of the $106,000 cost of the piece.

Gina Malone/For the Times-News

By Gina MaloneTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 9:12 p.m.

TRYON — Concerned groups of residents and merchants are trying to right a wrong by launching a fundraising campaign that could settle a long-standing debt in Tryon.

Acclaimed musician Nina Simone, born Eunice Waymon in Tryon in 1933, lived a life steeped in controversy, from her angry songs decrying racial injustices to her explosive rants and no-shows at her concerts in later years. She grew up in the segregated society of the time, collecting memories that she would rail against throughout her life.

She remembered especially a time when, while performing in Tryon, her parents were asked to give up their seats to a white couple. Simone loved to tell the story of how, even at the age of 11, she refused to perform unless her parents kept their seats.

Today, 10 years after her death, there is still a controversy involving Simone. This time, the question is who will pay the remaining $55,000 owed on the larger-than-life bronze statue of the singer that sits downtown in a plaza between Trade Street and the railroad tracks.

Though some Tryon residents protested its creation early on because of Simone's bitter feelings toward the U.S., many others were pleased to see the town proudly claim one of its own. The area around the impressive statue is carefully tended, much-photographed and sought out by tourists. Children, especially, like to sit on the bench where Simone's likeness perches — her fingers poised over the keys — and play piano with her. The statue was designed to be interactive in this way.

Its sculptor, Zenos Frudakis, sees it as an embodiment of the musician, since a bronze heart inside holds some of her cremated remains.

"With the statue," he said in an interview last week, "we brought her home again."

He calls Simone a "natural resource" for the town, one of the most important people, in his opinion, to come out of Tryon, regardless of what people think about her music or her activism. "I was pleased to be involved," he added.

A ceremony in early 2010 saw a crowd, including Frudakis and Simone's daughter, Lisa Kelly, gather to watch as the statue was dedicated on what would have been Simone's 77th birthday. Speeches were made, photographs taken and doves released.

Last year, however, attorneys contacted the Tryon Downtown Development Association (TDDA) to say that, two years after that dedication, Frudakis had only been paid $51,000 of the $106,000 cost of the statue.

The statue was commissioned in 2008 by the Nina Simone Project, a now-defunct organization that was founded by Crys Armbrust and included 13 other members of the community. This committee was independent of TDDA, an organization of merchants and residents engaged in promoting Tryon's downtown. However, TDDA agreed to act as an umbrella organization for the group until they secured 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, which never happened.

When a large group of residents and business owners gathered last summer to address concerns about downtown's decline and to brainstorm ways to attract more visitors and businesses, a new group — Always Tryon — was born. The group of volunteers describes itself as "A Community of Concerned Citizenry." During that initial meeting of more than 150 people, repayment of the debt to Frudakis was pegged as a key concern.

Ron Pankey of Always Tryon's steering committee said that more than one of the focus groups that came out of the initial meeting listed the debt as something that needed to be resolved. It was on the "wish list" of Mayor Alan Peoples as well, he said.

To that end, Always Tryon and TDDA kicked off a fundraising campaign in May with the goal of raising $60,000. Extra money collected will go into a fund for future maintenance of the statue. A letter sent out stated: "We believe a successful fund drive will minimize a divisive issue in the community, bring resolution to the ownership of the statue and avoid potential litigation with the sculptor over the debt."

Who will claim ownership of the statue once the debt is paid is another question. Always Tryon would like the town to assume ownership.

At a May 21 town council meeting, concerns from council members included costs associated with moving the statue should Norfolk Southern Railroad, which owns the property where the plaza is located, start running trains through town again. The board agreed to discuss ownership once the debt has been paid.

Frudakis said last week that he does not lay blame on anyone in particular for the lack of funds raised during the time he was completing the sculpture. The payments were scheduled to be disbursed to him as his work progressed. By 2010, however, he said, with the statue's completion coinciding with the tail end of the recession, he was told that some donations that had been promised initially would not be forthcoming after all.

Still, he hopes the remaining funds will be raised. "It's a shame for an artist to do work and not get paid for it," he said.

As it is, "I paid for the privilege of doing the sculpture," he said, since he has not received enough money even to reimburse the foundry for the cost of casting the bronze. He believes that the statue "adds something" to the town and hopes that people will recognize it as an asset and donate funds to cover the balance that remains.

Pankey said that the fundraising campaign has sent out 350 letters, resulting in "a modicum of success so far." Some people who donated during the first campaign are being asked again.

"This is still a fairly emotional issue in this town," Pankey said. Still, he hopes that retiring the debt will remove the "albatross" from TDDA, allowing the group to progress with other projects.

Those interested in making a donation to the fund can send checks to Bank of America, c/o Roberta Ratterree, 69 Pacolet St., Tryon, NC 28782. In order to be considered tax-deductible, checks should be made payable to TDDA, DBA Nina Simone Escrow Account.

<p>TRYON — Concerned groups of residents and merchants are trying to right a wrong by launching a fundraising campaign that could settle a long-standing debt in Tryon.</p><p>Acclaimed musician Nina Simone, born Eunice Waymon in Tryon in 1933, lived a life steeped in controversy, from her angry songs decrying racial injustices to her explosive rants and no-shows at her concerts in later years. She grew up in the segregated society of the time, collecting memories that she would rail against throughout her life. </p><p>She remembered especially a time when, while performing in Tryon, her parents were asked to give up their seats to a white couple. Simone loved to tell the story of how, even at the age of 11, she refused to perform unless her parents kept their seats.</p><p>Today, 10 years after her death, there is still a controversy involving Simone. This time, the question is who will pay the remaining $55,000 owed on the larger-than-life bronze statue of the singer that sits downtown in a plaza between Trade Street and the railroad tracks. </p><p>Though some Tryon residents protested its creation early on because of Simone's bitter feelings toward the U.S., many others were pleased to see the town proudly claim one of its own. The area around the impressive statue is carefully tended, much-photographed and sought out by tourists. Children, especially, like to sit on the bench where Simone's likeness perches — her fingers poised over the keys — and play piano with her. The statue was designed to be interactive in this way.</p><p>Its sculptor, Zenos Frudakis, sees it as an embodiment of the musician, since a bronze heart inside holds some of her cremated remains.</p><p>"With the statue," he said in an interview last week, "we brought her home again." </p><p>He calls Simone a "natural resource" for the town, one of the most important people, in his opinion, to come out of Tryon, regardless of what people think about her music or her activism. "I was pleased to be involved," he added.</p><p>A ceremony in early 2010 saw a crowd, including Frudakis and Simone's daughter, Lisa Kelly, gather to watch as the statue was dedicated on what would have been Simone's 77th birthday. Speeches were made, photographs taken and doves released. </p><p>Last year, however, attorneys contacted the Tryon Downtown Development Association (TDDA) to say that, two years after that dedication, Frudakis had only been paid $51,000 of the $106,000 cost of the statue.</p><p>The statue was commissioned in 2008 by the Nina Simone Project, a now-defunct organization that was founded by Crys Armbrust and included 13 other members of the community. This committee was independent of TDDA, an organization of merchants and residents engaged in promoting Tryon's downtown. However, TDDA agreed to act as an umbrella organization for the group until they secured 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, which never happened.</p><p>When a large group of residents and business owners gathered last summer to address concerns about downtown's decline and to brainstorm ways to attract more visitors and businesses, a new group — Always Tryon — was born. The group of volunteers describes itself as "A Community of Concerned Citizenry." During that initial meeting of more than 150 people, repayment of the debt to Frudakis was pegged as a key concern.</p><p>Ron Pankey of Always Tryon's steering committee said that more than one of the focus groups that came out of the initial meeting listed the debt as something that needed to be resolved. It was on the "wish list" of Mayor Alan Peoples as well, he said.</p><p>To that end, Always Tryon and TDDA kicked off a fundraising campaign in May with the goal of raising $60,000. Extra money collected will go into a fund for future maintenance of the statue. A letter sent out stated: "We believe a successful fund drive will minimize a divisive issue in the community, bring resolution to the ownership of the statue and avoid potential litigation with the sculptor over the debt."</p><p>Who will claim ownership of the statue once the debt is paid is another question. Always Tryon would like the town to assume ownership.</p><p>At a May 21 town council meeting, concerns from council members included costs associated with moving the statue should Norfolk Southern Railroad, which owns the property where the plaza is located, start running trains through town again. The board agreed to discuss ownership once the debt has been paid.</p><p>Frudakis said last week that he does not lay blame on anyone in particular for the lack of funds raised during the time he was completing the sculpture. The payments were scheduled to be disbursed to him as his work progressed. By 2010, however, he said, with the statue's completion coinciding with the tail end of the recession, he was told that some donations that had been promised initially would not be forthcoming after all. </p><p>Still, he hopes the remaining funds will be raised. "It's a shame for an artist to do work and not get paid for it," he said. </p><p>As it is, "I paid for the privilege of doing the sculpture," he said, since he has not received enough money even to reimburse the foundry for the cost of casting the bronze. He believes that the statue "adds something" to the town and hopes that people will recognize it as an asset and donate funds to cover the balance that remains.</p><p>Pankey said that the fundraising campaign has sent out 350 letters, resulting in "a modicum of success so far." Some people who donated during the first campaign are being asked again. </p><p>"This is still a fairly emotional issue in this town," Pankey said. Still, he hopes that retiring the debt will remove the "albatross" from TDDA, allowing the group to progress with other projects.</p><p>Those interested in making a donation to the fund can send checks to Bank of America, c/o Roberta Ratterree, 69 Pacolet St., Tryon, NC 28782. In order to be considered tax-deductible, checks should be made payable to TDDA, DBA Nina Simone Escrow Account. </p><p>The campaign will run until September.</p>